bobshop celebrates twentieth birthday by giving away a host of shopping vouchers, plus a grand prize to the value of R20,000 in shopping vouchers

(26 August 2019) In the month of August, bobshop, the vibrant South African online marketplace where people come to buy and to sell almost anything, marks its 20th anniversary. 

bobshop was launched in 1999 as a consumer-to-consumer auction site and marketplace with the aim to provide a trading model that enables retailers or hobby sellers to enjoy the benefits of going online, even if they lack digital infrastructure.

“Trading in collectible items, mainly in auction format, was the foundation on which Bob Shop was built,” says Bob Shop CEO Craig Lubbe and adds: “We are the first, and so far the only marketplace with online R1, no-reserve auctions. Over the years, practically every product known to humanity was put on a Bob Shop R1 auction, from cars and apartments to cruises and rare coins”. 

While the two pillars Bob Shop was built on - the hard-to-find collectibles and online auctions - still have their loyal following, the trading platform has changed profoundly over the past twenty years. Today, one can find on Bob Shop every product imaginable, from smartphones to lounge suits to car parts.  About 80 percent of merchandise is brand-new and the majority is sold at a fixed price.

Over the years, Bob Shop has implemented numerous changes to its core marketplace business model, improving search, expanding payment methods, providing integration for independent online retailers and incorporating delivery options to facilitate fulfilment. Recently, Bob Shop updated their shopping apps for iOS and Android smartphones with full selling functionality, making it easier and more convenient for users to not only buy, but also sell anytime, anywhere.

“The past 20 years have seen rapid user growth and our product offering has expanded into the millions. Our tech innovations have enabled millions of people to transact, grow businesses and ultimately create a brighter future. We are busy with exciting stuff and we look forward to our next chapter in South African e-commerce,” says Bob Shop CEO and adds:

“With all these changes, Bob Shop remains a platform committed to bringing together buyers and sellers, secure in the knowledge that they are trading on a safe and trusted online marketplace."

On 26 August, Bob Shop will launch an exciting Pass the Parcel competition with a host of spot prizes and a grand prize of R20,000. All prizes are in the form of bobBucks vouchers, Bob Shop’s own online shopping currency. “With this giveaway, we want to thank our users and acknowledge their role in the success of Bob Shop,” says Craig Lubbe.